While some of the United States took a break from launching products in favor of launching fireworks last week, there's still work going on across the industry. Below are some of the news stories we loved on Geo Week this week, and some of the news outside of the industry.
Stories of the Week
Surveyors’ offices may not seem like the most obvious place for digital transformation, but that’s exactly what’s happening in Santa Barbara County. This article explores how County Surveyor Aleks Jervremovic is leading a shift away from paper maps and manual processes toward a fully digital, cloud-based system. The change is already paying off—streamlining workflows, improving access to critical data, and setting the stage for even more advanced tech in the future.
Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is having a moment, and Hexagon is leaning all the way in. At Hexagon Live, their underground utilities section drew major attention—and for good reason. In this interview with Hexagon Detection Director Matthias Twardzik, we get a look at how AI and cross-team collaboration are making underground scanning tools smarter, easier to use, and accessible to a wider range of professionals.
Lidar is going to the Moon—yes, really. While the tech is typically used for terrestrial mapping, a new lunar mission called Moonraker will use a custom-designed lidar payload to scan the Moon’s polar regions in unprecedented detail. Led by NUVIEW GmbH with support from satellite builder SFL Missions, the project aims to create high-resolution 3D elevation models to help mission planners identify safe and scientifically valuable landing sites. The lidar system will even scan shadowed craters for water ice and potential hazards like small boulders—bringing a new level of precision to lunar exploration.
News of the Week
Last week was a bit light on news and press releases for the holiday weekend, but there’s still a few pieces to note:
A great read in GIM International about AI in reality capture, and the unexpected role that it plays. With all the hype and noise surrounding newer, generative AI these days, it’s a nice read to learn about what AI is really doing behind the scenes in our industry.
OpenSpace announced that they are now the first 360° reality capture platform approved for secure U.S. federal construction projects, having achieved FedRAMP Moderate Authorization. Already used on over 50 billion square feet of jobsites, it enables agencies to document, inspect, and manage projects remotely while meeting top security standards—helping teams cut costs, reduce travel, and make faster decisions.
And, lastly, slightly self-serving, but still important: Geo Week has also put out a press release this week reminding you that the Call for Speakers for the February 2026 conference is closing at the end of this week - so get your ideas in now or ping Carla if you have any questions.
